Muster roll workers push for wage revision as hunger strike looms

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 2, 2024

The All Jaintia Muster Roll Workers & Labour Union (AJMRW&LU) held a crucial Central Executive Committee meeting on December 2 at Tpep Pale to deliberate on the pressing issue of fair wages for government Muster Roll workers. The discussions emphasized the need for urgent revisions to daily wages in line with the legal provisions under the Minimum Wage Act of 1958.

Key demands included an immediate increase in the Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA), overdue since October 1, 2024, and a revision of the Floor Basic Rate, which should have been adjusted from October 1, 2023. These revisions, as per the law, are critical to addressing the widening gap between wages and rising living costs.

General Secretary Wegetwell Rumut informed that the union will meet with Vijay Kumar IAS, Commissioner & Secretary of Finance, on December 3 to present their grievances and demand swift action. She further stated that if the government fails to meet their expectations, the union will initiate an indefinite hunger strike starting December 17 in Shillong.

Muster Roll workers from East Jaintia Hills and West Jaintia Hills voiced their long-standing struggles during the meeting, emphasizing the inadequacy of current wages, which they claim are too low to sustain a basic standard of living. The workers urged the government to take immediate steps to revise their pay in line with the rising cost of living.

Advisor K.L. Pariat also addressed the gathering, highlighting the union’s consistent efforts and past struggles to secure workers’ rights. He urged the members to remain united in their fight for justice, reiterating that fair wages are not just a demand but a rightful entitlement under the law.

The union’s strong stance and the potential hunger strike underscore the urgency of the matter, putting pressure on the state government to act promptly.